After his common season debut with the Los Angeles Lakers, followers are already starting to activate Deandre Ayton. Ayton has obtained criticism in every certainly one of his NBA stops for his lack of effort and inconsistency, and that was on full show through the Lakers season opener.
Ayton struggled with turnovers and on the glass, having extra turnovers than Luka Doncic and fewer rebounds too. Regardless of the apparent caveat that it is just one recreation, Ayton’s efficiency was regarding and should give Lakers followers pause.
The irritating factor about a gap night time like this for the Lakers is that it now we have the identical conversations each October.
Oh, the supporting taking pictures is shaky? They cannot discover a non-Anthony Davis heart they will belief? Clearly a fringe defender quick? Is it 2025 or 2022?
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) October 22, 2025
In spite of everything, the Lakers desperately want Ayton to be no less than a league-average heart. Hopefully, even higher, given simply how a lot they want a succesful heart publish, Anthony Davis.
The Lakers should maximize Deandre Ayton’s potential
After flaming out with the Phoenix Suns—see what I did there– and the Portland Path Blazers, time is working out for Ayton to show himself. He clearly wants motivation, and the Lakers look like the proper place for that.
Coach JJ Redick clearly has no downside telling it like it’s, and that ought to hold Ayton sincere. Moreover, LeBron James has traditionally gotten probably the most out of position gamers. If he can work his magic with Ayton, then the Lakers could have gotten an extremely proficient heart for simply $8 million.
Higher nonetheless, he’s on a one-year deal, that means that he has monetary incentive to play in addition to attainable given that he’s taking part in for a brand new contract. Even after sporting out his welcome with the Blazers, he nonetheless averaged 14.4 factors, 10.8 rebounds, and almost 1 block per recreation.
Luka Doncic is essential to Deandre Ayton’s Lakers’ success
If he can increase his manufacturing to 17 factors, 11 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, he would greater than give the Lakers what they want. For him to perform that, his effort stage should be higher, sure, but additionally his fingers.
The Lakers are relying on Doncic to feed Ayton, giving him straightforward scoring alternatives. Doncic, himself, even talked about that he must be higher at delivering passes to Ayton after their season opener.
Deandre Ayton admitted he is perhaps a “complicated”pick-and-roll goal after Austin Reaves blamed a few of his 5 turnovers for making the “flawed go on the proper time” within the two-man recreation with the brand new Lakers heart pic.twitter.com/PFCgdd2kDG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 22, 2025
As a substitute of lob passes, Ayton prefers pocket passes, which could clarify a few of his struggles in his common season debut with the Lakers. Assuming Doncic can modify and feed Ayton, and Ayton may be an efficient finisher and rebounder, then he might rapidly bounce again. The Lakers positively hope that that would be the case.
